--- title: "Lightbridge Academy Targets Virginia for Growth; Exhibiting at The Franchise Show on April 14th and 15th" url: https://burnaze.com/article/d4adfd13-0bf9-457a-874f-7911df5af7c8 source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/lightbridge-academy-targets-virginia-for-growth-exhibiting-at-the-franchise-show-on-april-14th-and-15th-2706201 category: "Home Services" industry: "Home Services" published: 2018-04-06T14:09:10.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T03:03:44.476Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/3725d7e4c017205ac9bbe9a442d76b9c9416.jpg --- # Lightbridge Academy Targets Virginia for Growth; Exhibiting at The Franchise Show on April 14th and 15th **TL;DR:** Lightbridge Academy is planning to expand into Virginia, with its first location opening in Virginia Beach, and will be exhibiting at The Franchise Show in Washington D.C. to connect with potential franchisees. The brand aims to add 12 new units in Virginia and Washington D.C. over the next several years. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-04-06. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/lightbridge-academy-targets-virginia-for-growth-exhibiting-at-the-franchise-show-on-april-14th-and-15th-2706201).* ## Story After nearly saturating its entire home market of New Jersey, with their early child care franchise system, Lightbridge Academy is planning to further its growth by adding several locations throughout the state of Virginia. To jumpstart the networking process with potential unit owners, the brand’s franchise development team will be at The Franchise Show in Washington D.C. on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15 to connect with prospects interested in bringing a Lightbridge Academy location to Virginia. Lightbridge Academy has already touched ground in the state with its first location to open in Virginia Beach this month, and Virginia has several marketplaces that offer a similar demographic to territories in the Mid-Atlantic where the brand has already seen great success. “We’re targeting metropolitan areas in the state of Virginia with families that lead similar lifestyles to those we service at existing locations in markets throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania,” said Mark Mele, the Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at Lightbridge Academy. “Our presence throughout the Mid-Atlantic is well established, with over 30 operating locations we’ve brought to the area since launching the franchise opportunity less than a decade ago. Further saturating territories in Virginia will allow us to grow to be the most trusted name in early education child care along the Atlantic coastline.” The brand is targeting territories surrounding Richmond in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties as well as regions near its existing Virginia Beach location, including the cities of Norfolk and Chesapeake. The Washington D.C. border of Virginia also provides a marketplace in need of the services Lightbridge Academy offers working parents, along with the opportunity to claim its stake as a leader in the education sector in the area. The Franchise Show in Washington D.C. presents an opportunity for the Lightbridge Academy corporate team to connect with qualified candidates who have a background in or passion for education and are looking for a sound opportunity within the franchising industry. “Our presence is well-known across the Mid-Atlantic due to the community relationships our franchisees have built at the 31 centers throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia,” said Mele. “Many potential investors attending The Franchise Show in Washington D.C. will already be familiar with our Circle of Care philosophy that treats everyone who touches a child’s life is equally important, from their parents, the staff, our franchise owners and the communities each of our locations exist in,” said Mele. Lightbridge Academy seeks to bring franchise candidates into its system whose personal values align well with the brand. With plans to add 12 additional units throughout Washington D.C. and Virginia over the next several years, the company is one step closer to crossing its goal of 100 centers open, under construction or in development. ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - unit expansion (topic) - Home Services (sector) - franchise development (topic) - new york (location) - new jersey (location) - Virginia (location) - Lightbridge Academy (company) - Washington, D.C. (location) - Mark Mele (person) - regional growth (topic) - The Franchise Show (regulator) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/lightbridge-academy-targets-virginia-for-growth-exhibiting-at-the-franchise-show-on-april-14th-and-15th-2706201). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/d4adfd13-0bf9-457a-874f-7911df5af7c8).