§ 4-211. Duties

   (a) In general. -- The Administration shall:

   (1) assist the Governor in coordinating the activities of governmental units of the State that affect the solution of community development problems and the implementation of community plans;

   (2) encourage and assist political subdivisions to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to their common problems;

   (3) serve as a clearinghouse for information and other materials that may be pertinent to sound community development, including information on available federal, State, and private financial and technical assistance;

   (4) carry out continuing studies and analyses of sound community development in cooperation with the Department of Planning;

   (5) make recommendations, in cooperation with the Department of Planning, for administrative or legislative action, paying particular attention to the problems of metropolitan, suburban, and other areas;

   (6) implement model or demonstration programs and projects, contract to administer functions or services in a political subdivision, or otherwise provide a program of practical research in community development;

   (7) promote community development by giving to political subdivisions, local development agencies, local development entities, or nonprofit organizations:

      (i) technical assistance and advisory, consultative, training, and educational services; and

      (ii) grants and loans to pay for:

         1. the services and technical assistance; and

         2. any development costs;

   (8) (i) contract for and accept from the federal government a grant, contribution, or loan of money, property, or other aid in any form for community development; and

      (ii) do all things necessary to qualify for the grant, contribution, or loan, including those things necessary to qualify for assistance as a local public agency or public housing agency under a federal housing or renewal program;

   (9) contract for and accept from any governmental unit of the State or other source a gift, grant, contribution, or loan of money, property, or other aid in any form for community development and comply with the terms and conditions of the gift, grant, contribution, or loan;

   (10) attach to a sale or lease of property or to a loan or grant the terms and conditions that the Director determines and the Secretary approves;

   (11) enter into agreements to make annual payments instead of assessments, charges, or property taxes to a political subdivision in respect to real property that the Administration owns; and

   (12) provide money to programs eligible to receive funding from the Neighborhood Business Development Fund under § 6-309 of this article.

(b) Community development projects or public purpose projects. -- To implement community development projects and public purpose projects in accordance with Part V of this subtitle, and subject to § 4-213(b) and 4-214 of this subtitle, the Administration may:

   (1) (i) acquire, own, and hold land that is open, mainly open, or undeveloped, or any interest in the land;

      (ii) install access and interior streets and roads and sewer and water lines in or to the land and otherwise improve the land; or

      (iii) transfer, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the land;

   (2) (i) acquire, own, and hold land that is not open, mainly open, or undeveloped, as well as personal or mixed property;

      (ii) manage and operate the property;

      (iii) clear, improve, construct, or rehabilitate the property;

      (iv) transfer, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the property; or

      (v) take assignments of rentals or leases for the property;

   (3) arrange or contract with a political subdivision or private party in connection with a community development project or public purpose project for:

      (i) planning, replanning, zoning, or rezoning;

      (ii) opening, grading, or closing streets, roads, alleys, or other places;

      (iii) furnishing facilities;

      (iv) acquiring property or property rights by the political subdivision; or

      (v) furnishing property or services; and

   (4) spend Administration money for an undertaking that the Secretary approves.

(c) Weatherization program. -- The Administration shall develop and implement a weatherization program to provide money for insulation materials and insulation costs to households that qualify based on income and the program eligibility guidelines that the Secretary establishes.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 83B, § 2-203(j), 2-204(1)-(6), (8)-(12), (17), (18); 2005, ch. 26, § 2.