AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

SEC. 235. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.(a) Authorities.—For purposes of developing and implementing the management plan, the local coordinating entity may—(1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the State, political subdivisions of the State, and private organizations;(2) hire and compensate staff; and(3) enter into contracts for goods and services.(b) Duties.—(1) Management plan.—(A) In general.—The local coordinating entity shall develop and submit to the Secretary the management plan.(B) Considerations.—In developing and implementing the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall consider the interests of diverse governmental, business, and nonprofit groups within the heritage area.120 STAT. 1797(2) Priorities.—The local coordinating entity shall give priority to implementing actions described in the management plan, including the following:(A) Assisting units of government and nonprofit organizations in preserving resources within the heritage area.(B) Encouraging local governments to adopt land use policies consistent with the management of the heritage area and the goals of the management plan.(3) Public meetings.—The local coordinating entity shall conduct public meetings at least quarterly on the implementation of the management plan.(4) Annual report.—For any year in which Federal funds have been made available under this title, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes the following:(A) The accomplishments of the local coordinating entity.(B) The expenses and income of the local coordinating entity.(5) Audit.—The local coordinating entity shall—(A) make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching funds; and(B) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available to the Secretary for audit all records concerning the expenditure of those funds.(c) Use of Federal Funds.—(1) In general.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this title to acquire real property or an interest in real property.(2) Other sources.—Nothing in this title precludes the local coordinating entity from using Federal funds made available under other Federal laws for any purpose for which the funds are authorized to be used.