Oct. 11—WORTHINGTON — Individuals who need a ride, whether it's across town or out of town, now have a new option thanks to one of Worthington's newest businesses.

USA Transportation Service began offering its taxi services in Worthington on Oct. 3. Owned by Ayano Badassa, the taxi service operates with one vehicle currently, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Badassa is the lone driver, but if he can grow the business, he's hoping to expand both his fleet of taxis and number of employees. For now, he's purchased a Honda CR-V and can transport up to four riders at a time.

"I see a lot of people walking sometimes — no ride," Badassa said of starting his taxi business. The community has been without a taxi service for much of this year, and he wants to meet the need, whether it's transporting people to work, the grocery store or to a medical appointment.

"The taxi can go anywhere — it depends on what they need," Badassa said, noting that he charges a flat $5 fee for ride within Worthington's city limits, and $2.75 per mile for requests that take him out of Worthington. To arrange a ride, USA Transportation Service can be reached at (507) 370-7100.

Badassa received guidance from University of Minnesota Extension Financial Capability Educator Jose Lamas, who helped him register his business name and continues to work with him on developing a business plan. Together, the two have gone around town and hung posters and handed out business cards to spread the word about the taxi service.

Support was also obtained from the Southwest Small Business Development Center.

"He needed to be able to accept credit card payments," Lamas shared, adding he helped Badassa set up an account to take credit card payments.

Owning a business is a dream come true for Badassa, who moved to Worthington in December 2006. He'd hoped to open an African grocery store locally, but it wasn't financially feasible. Instead, he spent 13 years working for JBS in Worthington, and then took time off during the global pandemic to stay home with his family. In February, he returned to the workforce with a job at Walmart.

A native of Ethiopia, Badassa and his wife, Bedhatu Yayo, left their homeland in July 2006 because they no longer felt safe. They were eventually able to bring their three children to the United States, and added three more children to their family after coming to America.

Badassa's wife is a teacher's assistant at Headstart, and their three oldest children are in college — one at Minnesota State University-Mankato, one at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis and the third at United World College of the American West. Those still at home include a high school senior, a third grader and one in kindergarten.