PACA joins with our allies and members to advocate on municipal, state, and federal levels for policies that support the growth of the cooperative movement. PACA holds a Policy and Advocacy Circle, which meets the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 PM.

Recent accomplishments

In 2025, PACA was the first city in the US to pass the Year of the Co-op Resolution in Philadelphia City Council, with our partners at Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke’s Office. This resolution signs onto the UN’s resolution for 2025 to be the International Year of the Cooperative. Councilmember O’Rourke uplifted the UN resolution, advocating that cooperatives “promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of local communities” and “contribute to the eradication of poverty and hunger.”

PACA continues to work with with Representative Rick Krajewski on HB135 for Worker Cooperative Corporations, which lowers the barrier to entry for forming cooperatives in Pennsylvania by reducing the initial membership threshold for forming cooperative corporations.

PACA is a member of the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia. We were proud to lobby for the 2026 Be About Us People’s Budget alongside the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, National Domestic Worker Alliance, Pennsylvania Working Families Party and Reclaim Philadelphia. Together, we advocated for funding the Office of Worker Protections, libraries and rec centers. We’re advocating for no tax cuts for the rich, increased funding for immigrant programs, funding for L&I to launch a pilot proactive inspection program for rental code enforcement, funding the Built to Last Home Repair Program, and more.

Check out our policy brief, “Public Policy to Support the Growth of Cooperative Business in Philadelphia.”