AUTHORITIES, DUTIES, AND PROHIBITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

SEC. 297E. AUTHORITIES, DUTIES, AND PROHIBITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.(a) Authorities.—For purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, the local coordinating entity may use funds made available under this subtitle to—(1) make grants to, provide technical assistance to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the State (including a political subdivision), a nonprofit organization, or any other person;(2) hire and compensate staff, including individuals with expertise in—(A) cultural, historic, or natural resource protection; or(B) heritage programming;(3) obtain funds or services from any source (including a Federal law or program);(4) contract for goods or services; and(5) support any other activity—(A) that furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area; and(B) that is consistent with the management plan.(b) Duties.—In addition to developing the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall—(1) 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 in the Heritage Area;(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs in the Heritage Area;(C) developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area;(D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for cultural, historic, and natural resources of the Heritage Area;(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings that are—(i) located in the Heritage Area; and(ii) related to the themes of the Heritage Area;(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying points of public access and sites of interest are installed 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;(2) in preparing and implementing the management plan, consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Area;(3) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan;(4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are received under this subtitle—120 STAT. 1843(A) submit to the Secretary a report that describes for the year—(i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;(ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; and(iii) each entity to which a grant was made;(B) make available for audit all information relating to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and(C) require, for all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving entity make available for audit all records and other information relating to the expenditure of the funds;(5) encourage, by appropriate means, economic viability that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area; and(6) maintain headquarters for the local coordinating entity at Morristown National Historical Park and in Mercer County.(c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.—(1) Federal funds.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest in real property.(2) Other funds.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the local coordinating entity may acquire real property or an interest in real property using any other source of funding, including other Federal funding.