OPERATION OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

SEC. 295E. OPERATION OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.(a) Duties of the Local Coordinating Entity.—To further the purposes of the Heritage Corridor, the local coordinating entity shall—(1) prepare and submit a management plan to the Secretary in accordance with section 295F;(2) assist units of local government and other persons in implementing the approved management plan by—(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, protect, and enhance important resource values within the Heritage Corridor;(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs within the Heritage Corridor;(C) developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Corridor;(D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the historical, cultural, natural, and scenic resources of the Heritage Corridor;(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage Corridor that are consistent with Heritage Corridor themes;120 STAT. 1834(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Corridor; and(G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, organizations, and individuals to further the purposes of the Heritage Corridor;(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, business, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Corridor in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;(4) conduct meetings open to the public at least quarterly regarding the development and implementation of the management plan;(5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal year in which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this subtitle, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses, and income, including grants made 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 all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organization make available for audit all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds; and(7) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Corridor.(b) Authorities.—The local coordinating entity may, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use funds made available under this subtitle to—(1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the States of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, political subdivisions of those States, a nonprofit organization, or any person;(2) hire and compensate staff;(3) obtain funds from any source including any that are provided under any other Federal law or program; and(4) contract for goods and services.