PICO-UNION/KOREATOWN : Arco Aids Refugee and Youth Centers

The Arco Corp. has donated more than $1 million to two local agencies for community projects.

The Central American Refugee Center, based in Pico-Union, was awarded $800,000 for a project that will convert a former Immigration and Naturalization Service detention facility into a community center.

Arco also contributed $250,000 to the Korean Youth & Community Center for the expansion of its glass, paper and aluminum recycling program, one of four programs in the organization’s Koreatown Beautification Project.

The grants were the single largest donations the organizations have received.

Madeline Janis, who recently announced that she will step down as executive director of the refugee center, said the donation and a $3.3-million loan from the city will help complete the $5.2-million facility.

Carlos Vaquerano, the center’s community representative, said the 10-year-old organization will seek the remaining $1.1 million for the project from the private sector.

Plans call for the community center, at 1115 S. Alvarado St., to open in April, 1994, Janis said.

Bong Hwan Kim, the youth center’s executive director, said the grant to his 17-year-old organization will allow it to create about 50 jobs for youths.

Working with the city’s Recycling and Waste Reduction Division, the program collects recyclable items from restaurants in Koreatown. From July, 1991, to June, 1992, the program collected 383,894 pounds of glass and 85,602 pounds of paper for $24,300.

The expanded program will offer Korean-American, Latino and African-American youths in Koreatown a chance to gain work experience, entrepreneurial skills and an awareness of environmental problems, Kim said.

Information on the youth program: (213) 365-7400.