AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

SEC. 275. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.(a) Duties of the Management Entity.—To further the purposes of the Heritage Area, the management entity shall—(1) prepare and submit a management plan for the Heritage Area to the Secretary in accordance with section 276;(2) assist units of local government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the approved management plan by—(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, protect and enhance important resource values within the Heritage Area;(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs within the Heritage Area;(C) developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area;(D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage Area that are consistent with heritage area themes;(F) ensuring that signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Area; and(G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, organizations and individuals to further the purposes of the Heritage Area;(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations and individuals in the Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;120 STAT. 1816(4) conduct meetings open to the public at least semi-annually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan;(5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal year in which the management entity receives Federal funds under this subtitle, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses, and income, including grants to any other entities during the year for which the report is made;(6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which it receives Federal funds under this subtitle, all information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds, and require in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for such audit all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and(7) encourage by appropriate means economic development that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.(b) Authorities.—The management entity may, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan for the Heritage Area, use Federal funds made available through this subtitle to—(1) make grants to the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, their political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations and other persons;(2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, their subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties;(3) hire and compensate staff, which shall include individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and historical resources protection, and heritage programming;(4) obtain money or services from any source including any that are provided under any other Federal law or program;(5) contract for goods or services; and(6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area and is consistent with the approved management plan.(c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.—The management entity may not use Federal funds received under this subtitle to acquire real property, but may use any other source of funding, including other Federal funding outside this authority, intended for the acquisition of real property.