ABOUT
Welcome to Keystone Consulting Group, where visionary leadership meets community empowerment. We are a dynamic consulting firm committed to transforming communities through specialized expertise in community development, affordable housing, and urban and rural revitalization.
The Mission
At Keystone Consulting Group, our mission is clear: to confront the unique challenges faced by underserved communities. We are dedicated to crafting diverse and inclusive solutions that yield positive social and economic impacts. Through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, we strive to foster lasting change that resonates at the grassroots level.
The Approach
We believe in the power of partnerships. Keystone Consulting Group collaborates closely with a diverse array of stakeholders, including government entities, nonprofits, community organizations, and financial institutions. Together, we work to facilitate strategic planning, build capacity, and empower communities financially.
The Leader
Edselle K. Cunningham, Jr. brings a wealth of experience and a passionate commitment to community transformation. With a proven track record in the field, he leads our team with vision, integrity, and a profound dedication to positive change.
At Keystone Consulting Group, we are not just consultants; we are partners in progress. Together, let's create communities that thrive, where every individual has the opportunity to flourish and contribute to a brighter future. Join us in our mission to build a better tomorrow, one community at a time.
OUR FOUNDER & CEO
EDSELLE K. CUNNINGHAM, JR.
Founder and CEO
Edselle K. Cunningham, Jr. is a Baton Rouge native, attorney, and community development executive with two decades directing public-purpose investment, housing finance, bond transactions, tax credit programs, and multi-agency partnerships across Louisiana.
He served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation — Louisiana's state housing finance agency — from 2016 to 2021, increasing agency revenue by over $15 million and improving HUD performance rankings by 30 percent while directing a multimillion-dollar budget, statewide grant programs, and the agency's LIHTC, HOME, CDBG, and Multifamily Revenue Bond initiatives across all 64 parishes. From 2006 to 2016, he served as the agency's Executive Counsel, acting as chief legal advisor on bond transactions, tax credit allocations, HOME and CDBG program compliance, and regulatory matters.
Edselle has spent over twenty years advocating for underserved communities, leveraging his legal expertise to champion their rights and interests. He played a pivotal role in shaping Louisiana policies and programs that significantly impacted the availability and accessibility of affordable housing. His strategic vision and collaborative approach led to innovative solutions that continue to benefit communities to this day.
In 2021, he founded Keystone Consulting Group, providing legal, governance, and strategic counsel to public agencies, developers, CDFIs, CHDOs, and community organizations across the full continuum of housing finance and community development. He currently serves as Consultant and General Counsel to the Capital Area Transit System (CATS), advising the Board of Commissioners and CEO on governance, compliance, and public agency operations, and as Vice Chair of the CATS Employees' Pension Fund Board.
Edselle's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is at the heart of Keystone Consulting Group's mission. He believes in the power of partnerships and works closely with government entities, nonprofits, community organizations, and financial institutions to create sustainable change. Under his guidance, Keystone Consulting Group has become a driving force for positive transformation in communities across Louisiana.
His record includes leading Baton Rouge's application to the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities Initiative, organizing Louisiana's first statewide housing conference, creating the state's first statewide tenant-based rental assistance program, and directing disaster recovery housing initiatives following the 2016 Baton Rouge floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, he received the National Award for Program Excellence from the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA).
He holds a J.D. from Southern University Law Center and a B.A. in History from Southern University A&M College, and is a licensed attorney in the State of Louisiana.
With a visionary outlook and an unwavering commitment to progress, Edselle K. Cunningham, Jr. is dedicated to building a better future, one community at a time.