President & CEO Kim Goll represented First 5 OC at the Orange County Community Foundation’s 2026 OC Economic Opportunity Report Release, where regional leaders reviewed data and strategies to strengthen our economy. While the report recognized childcare as an anchor of OC’s economy, it also revealed that child care is the only sector forecasted to shrink.
Kim spoke on the panel and led a breakout session, highlighting First 5 OC’s child care work and helping to generate ideas to address sector challenges. The discussion emphasized that childcare is the workforce behind the workforce; without it, parents cannot work and support the Orange County economy.
It was encouraging to see leaders from diverse sectors engaged and thinking differently about solutions for this critical issue. Expanding the conversation beyond traditional stakeholders is essential to ensure child care remains a cornerstone of our region’s economic strategy.