---
title: "Richmond Times-Dispatch: Lightbridge Academy Eyes Richmond, Virginia for Growth"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/6536d930-a480-4ace-9c5d-733185afb764
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/richmond-times-dispatch-lightbridge-academy-eyes-richmond-virginia-for-growth-12420
category: "Childcare & early learning"
industry: "Education & Childcare"
segment: "Childcare & early learning"
published: 2017-06-01T22:17:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:34:13.819Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/26a10dfd6601e2fed79c5cba91e504d32048.jpg
---

# Richmond Times-Dispatch: Lightbridge Academy Eyes Richmond, Virginia for Growth

**TL;DR:** Lightbridge Academy plans to open two new centers in Richmond, Virginia, as part of its state expansion plans. The company has 27 locations and plans to open 16 new locations this year.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-06-01. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/richmond-times-dispatch-lightbridge-academy-eyes-richmond-virginia-for-growth-12420).*

## Story

Lightbridge Academy is targeting Richmond, Va. for greater state expansion and has plans to open two new centers in the city within a year.

“We seem to be making progress with two potential sites,” Mele told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “If we can get the leases signed ... we are looking at a potential opening later this fall, or it if gets backed up because of permit approvals or things like that, it could be spring of 2018.”

Lightbridge Academy was founded in 1997 and currently has 27 locations, with plans to open 16 new locations just this year. The initial investment to open a Lightbridge Academy is an estimated $700,000 with a franchise fee of $60,000.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise growth (topic)
- location expansion (topic)
- Education & Childcare (sector)
- Lightbridge Academy (company)
- Richmond (location)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/richmond-times-dispatch-lightbridge-academy-eyes-richmond-virginia-for-growth-12420). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/6536d930-a480-4ace-9c5d-733185afb764).