Lightbridge Academy® Signs Lease for First Florida Location, Plans To Grow Throughout the Sunshine State

As Lightbridge Academy announces its first lease in the state of Florida, the Innovators in Educational Child Care®, are now targeting the Sunshine State for widespread expansion to meet the growing demand for quality child care.

Expanding in Florida is part of the brand’s greater plan as it aims for 11 new locations open by the end of the year, putting the brand on track to reach its larger goal of 150 locations by 2026.

Lightbridge’s first franchisee in Florida, Al Ferrari, has already signed a franchise agreement for an upcoming location in Port St. Lucie, which is expected to open in Spring 2023. The brand then plans to open locations in the Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Palm Beach areas creating up to 40 jobs with each location.

“We will be the pioneers in Florida, and we want to make a difference,” said Ferrari, who plans to share the business with his sons — and eventually pass the business on to them. “We want to demonstrate that this is a different type of child care, one that is involved in and an asset to the community.”

Ferrari says Port St. Lucie used to be a small town with few jobs, but now, due to a $38 billion project to bring jobs into the community, the area has grown substantially and the need for quality child care centers for working parents is in high demand.

“By the time we open our doors, there will be many families needing our services,” said Ferrari. “There's only a few small daycares in the area and with roughly 6,500 kids in a five-mile radius, many parents are facing the challenge of being put on waitlists.”

Jim DiRugeris , SVP of Franchise Sales for Lightbridge, acknowledged the tremendous impact Lightbridge Academy will bring to communities in Florida, as the state continues to grow at a rate of about 900 people a day .

DiRugeris says over the past few years, the brand has focused its efforts on remaining operationally strong and building out the areas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

“We wanted to build out the infrastructure and make sure we could recreate our culture of care, support the delivery of a quality curriculum and ensure the Lightbridge Promise®, our commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of our families, before expanding further from the home base,” said DiRugeris.

Ferrari has already forged a path for development for Lightbridge in the state of Florida and plans to open another location in the next five years, and more prospective franchisees are taking notice of the opportunity in the state.

DiRugeris says he gets inquiries from a considerable number of existing franchisees — many in New Jersey — who are looking for new opportunities in different markets. The top two markets of discussion are the Carolinas and the state of Florida.

“They're typically partnering up with former co-workers or family,” he said “And not only are they expanding their own network, but they're also helping us enter into new markets.”

Ferrari emphasized the impact Lightbridge would have in his community and the entire state of Florida, stating that the brand is not the typical child care facility but rather, an extension of the family.

“Lightbridge Academy is truly The Solution for Working Parent s®,” said Ferrari. “It's tough to juggle your personal life and work — especially when both parents are working — but this brand goes above and beyond to create a quality early education program while supporting the needs of busy working parents and keeping them connected to their children’s day. I look forward to bringing such a trusted child care brand to Port St. Lucie and expanding its presence throughout Florida.”