LYONS, Nebraska – The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks public comment on changes designed to make getting loans for major projects easier for rural communities. Four loan guarantee programs reassure banks that they will be repaid when towns borrow for infrastructure improvements, such as water and wastewater treatment systems and energy projects. But each program has a separate application and specific requirements. The proposed changes would streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic red tape, the USDA stated, which could make the programs more appealing to larger banks and lead to greater private investment in rural communities. Johnathan Hladik, policy director at the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska, said the change has potential. For starters, the change might make more money for the banks. “There is every reason to think that this was something that was developed with banks in mind,” Hladik said. “It’s going to be important for us to read that fine print and…