In collaboration with the participating agencies and the board, the Department of Community and Economic Development shall manage the operation of this program, establish guidelines and an application process for the grants, develop such forms and institute procedures to implement this program, determine the distribution of funds and determine the approved applications for innovative programs as established in section 902.¹ The department shall enter into a contract with an eligible applicant to provide workforce leadership grants from funds appropriated for this purpose or from funds identified by the participating agencies for this purpose under the General Appropriations Act.