Leaders of the HHWP Community Action Commission asked Findlay City Council on Sept. 16 for a local funding commitment to help launch a micro‑transit redesign of the Hancock Area Transportation System (HATS) and to secure matching federal and state grant funding.

Josh Anderson, CEO of HHWP Community Action, and Jamie Baker, HATS director of transportation, told council the agency provided about 78,000 trips last year and anticipates exceeding 80,000 this year. Baker said HATS recorded 1,612 trip denials last year and about 2,800 denials so far this year because the system is at capacity.

HHWP presented a micro‑transit model—software‑driven scheduling with an app for riders, zone‑based pick‑ups and a central transfer point—designed to increase vehicle productivity (an example from Marion moved roughly 3.5 riders per vehicle per hour versus the current about 2 per hour). Baker said the model could add as many as 50,000 rides annually and is intended to be more flexible and less infrastructure‑heavy than a full fixed‑route system, which the presenters said would have required an estimated $350,000 per year in operating support plus additional capital for stops and shelters.

To apply for ODOT grant funding, HHWP said it needs firm local commitments by the grant deadline of Nov. 14. The partners have calculated an annual funding gap of about $125,000 to operate the micro‑transit system; HHWP seeks a multi‑partner approach in which the city would provide $25,000 per year and other local funders (county, community foundation and businesses) would provide the remainder. Council added two HHWP items to the agenda at the meeting: an ordinance reappropriating a $100,000 general‑fund commitment that was not processed at the end of last year (ordinance 2025‑118) and a proposed ordinance committing $25,000 per year for 2026–2030 to support HATS micro‑transit (ordinance 2025‑119).

Council reconsidered and then approved the reappropriation ordinance (2025‑118) that had been committed previously but was not processed; councilman Russell voted nay on that appropriation. Ordinance 2025‑119 received first reading on Sept. 16 and remains pending; it requires separate council action before funds are spent.

Council members and presenters discussed program details including vehicle type (recently purchased low‑floor buses improve safety and accessibility), options to test a deviated fixed route or night route, the location for a transfer station (still under development), and the need to coordinate commitments from the county and community foundation. Presenters said HATS currently does not receive recurring public operating funds—unlike most rural transit agencies in Ohio—and that city investment would help leverage state and federal grants.

Council did not adopt a multi‑year commitment for 2026–2030 on Sept. 16 beyond the reappropriated $100,000; the council instructed staff to include the $25,000 annual request in the 2026 budget process and to seek partner commitments before the ODOT grant deadline.