As the new intern for the Chilton County Industrial Development Board, Carina Maciel has enjoyed learning about economic development.

“Before I started my internship, I really didn’t know much about what economic development meant,” Maciel said. “It wasn’t really something I thought about, but now I find that I am more interested in learning how an area can grow, develop and attract new businesses. I think it is really neat.”

Maciel graduated from Verbena High School in May, and has been attending Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton campus.

“I found out about the internship opportunity with the Industrial Development Board, and I thought it would be something I would enjoy doing,” Maciel said.

Maciel now works five days a week for roughly four hours each day helping Industrial Development Coordinator Fred Crawford with social media updates for the county, as well as gathering information about economic development for the county.

“I also find any updates about our county, and put those online,” Maciel said. “We try to post at least one thing to social media each day.”

Crawford said Maciel is the third intern the IDB has had, and the interns help provide social media insight.

“Through their insight, we are able to upload things about our county, and this is important because social media is used by companies and consultants to look at the city’s and counties they are interested in,” Crawford said. “These interns help us put our best foot forward.”

Maciel said it is important for her to see her home town grow and improve.

“I think Chilton County has the potential for a lot of opportunities,” Maciel said. “I think when you come and visit this area, the small-town nature makes people feel like they are at home.”

Maciel’s first day on the job was June 15, and she plans to continue working with the internship the spring of 2016.

“I have really enjoyed it so far,” Maciel said. “It will be really neat to be able to watch different businesses expand and grow during my time as an intern.”

Crawford said the social media aspect for the IDB was developed less than six months ago by the IDB’s second intern, and is now in the “refinement” stage.

“We are hoping to constantly update our social media sites and adding more information and likes from people in our county and across the state,” Crawford said.

To learn more about economic development in the county, visit Chilton County Economic Development’s Facebook page.