Lightbridge Academy Franchisees Becky and Brian Grovenstein Continue Expansion in North Carolina, Opening the State’s Second Location in Under a Year

Last year, Becky Grovenstein and her husband Brian opened the first-ever North Carolina Lightbridge Academy in Holly Springs. Now, the Grovensteins are ready to open a second location nine miles away, off of Highway 64, in their home community of Apex, North Carolina.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, early education and child care franchise Lightbridge Academy is continuing to thrive, with over 119 centers either open, under construction or in development in markets across the Mid-Atlantic and South. Although the Grovensteins had already started construction on the Apex center prior to the pandemic, the past few months have been anything but normal as they tried to adapt their plans. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made all of us refocus and reflect on what is important and what we do best at Lightbridge Academy,” said Becky Grovenstein. “Even before COVID-19, safety was such a key part of the Lightbridge Academy brand. But now more than ever, health and safety are top priorities for students and teachers, and that is why the brand rolled out the Lightbridge Promise.” 

The Lightbridge Promise sets the Gold Standard in the child care industry for health and safety. As part of this higher standard, all Lightbridge Academy centers made a major investment in advanced air purification and filtration systems that continuously purify the air and sterilize all visible surfaces. Along with Lightbridge Quality Assurance Program, enhanced procedures and protocols and requirements, such as all staff members attaining their CPR and first aid certification, the brand has committed to creating a secure learning environment. Lightbridge Academy parents also find peace of mind being able to stay connected through the ParentView® Internet Monitoring System, which provides them with access to their child’s classroom. 

“We do everything possible to make sure our centers are as safe, clean and secure as possible,” said Grovenstein. “The new air purification and filtration system is installed in our Holly Springs location and our new center in Apex will have it as well. Brian and I are working parents, so we understand what it’s like to leave your child in the care of someone else. The most important thing in child care is building trusting relationships between administrators, teachers, parents and children. It isn’t always easy but it is necessary especially when facing challenges.”

According to Grovenstein, Lightbridge Academy of Holly Springs is The Solution for Working Parents® , offering kindergarteners virtual learning support through its supplemental school age program. Despite the pandemic, their Apex center is well underway and set to open in the early Spring of 2021.

With more and more parents seeking a high quality early education and child care programs, the Grovensteins are now focused on building awareness that Lightbridge Academy is bringing this essential service to Apex.

“We live in Apex, so we are thrilled to be able to open a center in our home community,” said Grovenstein. “It is exciting to form great partnerships between Lightbridge and the families and businesses in the area. People around here are good at keeping a balance between the old-town feel and new, exciting growth — Apex is actually the third-fastest-growing city in the U.S.”

The pioneering franchisees are looking forward to making Lightbridge Academy a household name in the state. Over the past few years, Lightbridge Academy has signed additional agreements with qualified franchise prospects in major North Carolina cities including Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. These cities share similar characteristics in the areas where the brand has been prospering for more than 20 years by meeting the needs of working families.

“Becky and Brian Grovenstein are outstanding Lightbridge Academy franchise owners because they share our core values and have heart,” said Lightbridge Academy CEO Guy Falzarano. “We are thrilled to continue to build out the North Carolina market with such uniquely qualified partners who will extend our high care culture to the families of Apex.”

Overall, the Grovernsteins are proud to have been able to serve their community during such a difficult time and look forward to growing with the brand. “The child care industry is so rewarding. It allows you to not only educate young children but to also help them develop and watch them become amazing human beings,” said Grovenstein. “We are proud to be able to help the essential workers, families, teachers and students of our community and can’t wait to bring our Circle of Care to Apex.”

Lightbridge Academy is actively recruiting qualified franchise partners who want to grow the brand in North Carolina. Cities that the brand is targeting within the Charlotte area include Ballantyne, Wesley Chapel, Matthews, Pineville, Harrisburg, Cornelius, Mooresville and Concord. Additional expansion opportunities in the Raleigh market include Cary, Morrisville, Durham/Chapel Hill, Northwest Raleigh and Wake Forest.

The startup costs for a Lightbridge Academy franchise range from $549,228 to $737,635. The franchise fee is $40,000. To learn more about franchising with Lightbridge Academy, visit https://1851franchise.com/lightbridgeacademy.