; and (B) how the manufacturing concentration of the applicant competitively ranks nationally according to measures described in paragraph (5)(B)(ii). (7) Certain communities previously recognized Each consortium that was designated as a manufacturing community by the Secretary in carrying out the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership initiative of the Department of Commerce before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be deemed a manufacturing community designated under this subsection if such consortium is still designated as a manufacturing community by the Secretary as part of such initiative. (c) Support for designated manufacturing communities (1) Preferential consideration (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (D), if a member of a consortium designated as a manufacturing community under subsection (b) seeks financial or technical assistance under a participating program of a participating agency, the head of such agency may give preferential consideration to such member with respect to the awarding of such financial or technical assistance if— (i) such head considers the award of the financial or technical assistance consistent with the economic development strategy of the consortium