Trading floor

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The city can create a wholly-owned flex-corp or benefit corporation that competes with private entities to provide food in much needed areas. In this way, the city can take advantage of market forces while also mandating that the corporation act in the well-being of the public and not solely for profit.

A corporation has several advantages. The city can authorize funding as needed, but much like the Postal Service, can require that the corporation be self-sustaining. Because the corporation will be backed by the city, investors can invest and feel some assurance (more than with many speculative companies today!) that the corporation will be a good investment or even issue dividends. The corporation can also issue bonds which will have lower interest rates than other start-ups because it is city-backed.

In terms of governance, the board and management can either be chosen by city officials, or even elected by the public, however determined by the articles of incorporation.