Returning to the Cherokee County Community Development Agency for a second summer, Reinhardt University student Daniela Rangel stepped into an internship that promised to expand both her skills and her sense of direction. Not only could she continue to pursue her longstanding interest in government and hone her research skills, but she could also begin to explore her growing interest in zoning law. Though she was returning to Cherokee County, this was Rangel's first time as a Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP) intern. A history and political science double major, Rangel used her internship to enhance her research skills and deepen her understanding of county government operations.
During her previous internship with the county, Rangel developed a project dashboard for the county website and compiled a residential permit history and a housing stock inventory. She was invited back by Brantley Day, the director of Cherokee County's Community Development Agency, for a second internship with the department. This time, her focus was on conducting research aligned with Cherokee County Chairman Harry Johnston's priority of responsible growth and land use.
Rangel used the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) population growth models to begin her investigation into population growth and the resulting needs for Cherokee County. According to the ARC, Cherokee County ranks fourth in the metro Atlanta region for population growth, with a projected 50% increase from 2020 to 2050. Recognizing immense growth potential, Rangel conducted independent research and collaborated with county staff to further investigate housing and density needs to address population growth. Over the course of the internship, Rangel conducted a variety of research tasks for the county's 2050 population project. To review existing housing, Rangel compiled a history of single-family permits and certificates of occupancy for the county and each of its cities from 2014 to 2025. She also developed a 23-year history of average household size in the county and gathered both county and municipal data to conduct her analysis.
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Additionally, Rangel created her own population growth estimates using zoning build-out analysis. Working with planners from the planning and zoning department, Rangel developed a zoning built-out map and calculated total units across the county. Discussion and collaboration were a significant part of her internship. Not only did she collaborate across county departments, but Rangel also made connections with municipalities, developers, and researchers at the ARC. Site visits and tours became her favorite aspect of the internship, allowing her to immerse herself in her work and gain a fresh perspective on government operations. She also had the privilege to visit the courthouse, fire training centers, and active development sites in the county, such as Lake Arrowhead.
Rangel’s work offered a unique opportunity to work up close with county staff. “I’ve learned how county government functions on a practical level, including how various departments collaborate to serve the community,” she said. Coming away from the experience, Rangel said that she’s learned the importance of transparency, organization, and cross-department collaboration. “Seeing these operations firsthand showed me how each department plays a significant role in making the community run effectively,” she said.
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At the conclusion of the summer internship, Rangel created a presentation with her findings. She presented her work to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, noting that "it was rewarding to see all the hard work come together in a final presentation and to share the results with the county's leadership." In her presentation, Rangel highlighted her findings on county housing and zoning capacity under various growth scenarios, emphasizing that if the county experiences high growth, it will need additional zoning capacity. "Understanding these scenarios helps guide planning efforts to balance population growth with housing availability and infrastructure," she shared in her presentation. She also presented her internship experience to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
Reflecting on her internship, Rangel noted that she developed skills and deepened her commitment to pursue a legal career. Through her research, she strengthened skills in demographic analysis, zoning interpretation, and development capacity. She also practiced creating engaging and informative data visualizations. Although she had long been interested in government work, her internship solidified her dedication to this career, showing that she can leverage her talents to benefit local government.
After Rangel graduates next spring, she hopes to continue her studies at law school, where she’s interested in zoning and land-use law. She recognizes the need for zoning attorneys in public service and hopes to work in local government to help close the gap between the public and private sectors. Rangel is confident that the skills she gained through her internship experiences will be valuable as she continues her education and begins her career.
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