; (B) hire a person to direct the project not later than the end of the planning period applicable to the project; (C) accept all technical assistance offered by the Secretary with respect to the grant; (D) participate in such in-person grantee conferences as are regularly scheduled by the Secretary; (E) provide all data required by the Secretary under subsection (g); and (F) notify the local disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists under section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, and the local veterans’ employment representatives under section 4104 of such title, of the grantee’s outreach plan for advertising training opportunities to potential participants in the project. (b) Preferences in considering applications In considering applications for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to— (1) applications submitted by applicants to whom a grant was made under this section or any predecessor to this section; (2) applications submitted by applicants who have business and community partners in each of the following categories: (A) State and local government agencies and social service providers, including a State or local entity that administers a State program funded under part A of this title; (B) institutions of higher education, apprenticeship programs, and local workforce development boards established under section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and (C) health care employers, health care industry or sector partnerships, labor unions, and labor-management partnerships; (3) applications that include opportunities for mentoring or peer support, and make career coaching available, as part of the case management plan; (4) applications which describe a project that will serve a rural area in which— (A) the community in which the individuals to be enrolled in the project reside is located; (B) the project will be conducted