Last-minute cuts in the California budget are threatening programs that have been instrumental in helping entrepreneurs beat back the recession’s perils.

Small Business Development Centers, which offer loans, counseling and other resources using a mixture of state, federal and corporate funding, have been busier than ever this year. But the state’s budget squeeze brought a 32 percent reduction in the funding that community colleges can use to operate some of the 35 centers in California.

In addition, the trust fund that backs the state’s small-business loan operation took a $10-million whack. The loan program used the $35-million trust to help cover its 90 percent guarantee on loans made by approved lenders to small businesses. Now no new guarantees can be issued.

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