(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.