LEWISTON – John Holden of Auburn has joined the USDA Rural Development staff as an area specialist at the Lewiston area office.

His responsibilities include providing leadership in implementing Rural Development’s activities; making and servicing complex and difficult loans, loan guarantees, and grants; providing technical assistance to rural communities, individuals, program applicants, and borrowers, as well as state, federal and local governments; and conducting group meetings and training sessions. Holden will serve Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec and Oxford Counties.

Holden has a master’s degree in community economics from the University of Maine, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Bowling Green State University of Ohio.

He has 15 years of experience in business and economic development and joins Rural Development from his previous position as director of business services at Eastern Maine Development Corporation in Bangor.