; (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; and (D) participate in such in-person grantee conferences as are regularly scheduled by the Secretary. (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 for fiscal year 2020 under the immediate predecessor to this section, and who are in full compliance with the conditions of the grant; (2) applications submitted by applicants who have completed a demonstration project funded under the immediate predecessor to this section or under subsection (c)(2) of this section, if an evaluation of the project, which was funded by the Secretary, found the project to have positive outcomes in the categories of— (A) graduation and credential attainment; (B) job placement and retention; and (C) evidence of addressing the worker shortage or in-demand jobs described in the original application for funding for the completed demonstration project; (3) 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, labor unions, and labor-management partnerships; (4) applications that include opportunities for mentoring or peer support, and make career coaching available, as part of the case management plan