In order to carry out its overall responsibility for administering a human resource program, a human resource agency is hereby given the authority to own and dispose of property, both real and personal, and to receive and administer funds under this chapter, funds and contributions from private or local public sources which may be used in support of a human resource program, and funds under any federal or state assistance program pursuant to which such an agency organized in accordance with the provisions of this chapter could serve as grantee, contractor, or sponsor of projects appropriate for inclusion in a human resource program.