(a) The Department shall:
(1) encourage and assist political subdivisions and public and private community organizations to develop mutual and cooperative solutions to their common problems;
(2) serve as a clearinghouse for information and materials that may be pertinent to sound community assistance, including information on available federal, State, and private financial assistance and technical assistance;
(3) implement model or demonstration programs and projects or otherwise provide a program of practical research in community assistance;
(4) provide grants and loans for energy conservation and the use of solar energy in commercial and residential buildings;
(5) provide advisory, consultative, training, and educational services, and technical assistance to any political subdivision, local public agency, or nonprofit organization for community assistance purposes;
(6) contract for and accept a gift, grant, contribution, or loan of money, property, or other aid for community assistance from a governmental unit, the federal government, or another source and comply with the terms and conditions of that aid;
(7) attach terms and conditions to financial assistance as the Secretary determines;
(8) participate with political subdivisions, regional governments, organizations, and the federal government in developing, financing, and implementing a program to build the management capabilities of municipal corporations by supplying needed managerial expertise through circuit riding managers;
(9) administer federal programs relating to community assistance; and
(10) develop and implement a weatherization program in accordance with Title 4 of this article and administer the low–income weatherization component of the electric universal service program in accordance with § 7–512.1 of the Public Utilities Article.
(b) The Department may:
(1) sell any mortgage or other obligation that the Department holds at public or private sale, with or without public bidding;
(2) retain the servicing rights and charge servicing fees for any mortgage or other obligation that the Department sells; and
(3) apply the proceeds from any sale and servicing fees earned to any of the funds established under Title 4, Subtitle 5 of this article.