BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (AP) — A swim school that began in Birmingham as a mom-and-pop operation has turned into a growing franchise network.

Launched in 2006, Goldfish Swim School comprises five schools in Michigan and 10 more under development in locations as far afield as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago. Investors are coughing up $1 million or more, per location, for a Goldfish franchise — in a still-sluggish economy.

The goal is simple: Teach kids how to swim.

Jenny, a 32-year-old competitive swimmer at Birmingham Seaholm High School and the University of Arizona, devised the instruction model. She and her husband, Chris, spent two years researching swim schools, and with loans from family members, opened the Birmingham location.

The Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/UCoMWL ) says school employs about 50 people, mostly part-time, college-age instructors.

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Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com