By Intergovernmental Agreement all local government members signed resolutions through their legislative bodies to establish the Southeast Council of Governments. This cooperative is specifically empowered to contract or otherwise participate in and to accept grants, funds, gifts, property, or services from any federal, state or local government, agencies, private sources and civic sources. They are also empowered to expend funds received there from, under provisions as may be required of and agreed to by the cooperative, in connection with any program or purpose for which the cooperative exists.