Gov. Christie, Mayor Fulop among attendees at Goya’s Jersey City grand opening

Gov. Chris Christie and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop were among hundreds of attendees at Goya’s ribbon cutting ceremony for their new $127 million corporate headquarters earlier today. 

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The new corporate headquarters, which is also a 660,000-square-foot facility, broke ground in 2012 and will now renovate their 240,000-square-foot Secaucus building to strictly handily production.

Goya spokesman Rafel Toro led off the event, recognizing all the attendees as members of “La Gran Familia Goya.”

Goya Executive Vice President Peter Unanue revealed that the company will be donating 25,000 pounds of food between five local food pantries as a way to give back to Hudson County.

His brother, Bob Unanue – the president of Goya – said that the company made it to this point through hard work, stating that he feels like their success is just beginning.

He also thanked Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli “for being such good friend and supporter” of Goya.

Although Goya has faced some criticism for receiving $82 million in tax credits for the next decade (per NJTV), with Jersey City also approving an $8 million tax abatement that will span the next 20 years (h/t Jersey City Independent), Christie said the “cultural strength” Goya brings to our state “is impossible to place a dollar value on.”

Furthermore, Fulop said that having the largest Latino food processor in the country headquartered in Jersey City speaks to the city’s history.