McKesson Corp. revealed as company behind Clear Lake mystery plant project

Officials said Thursday that San Francisco-based McKesson Corp. would occupy a new 340,000-square-foot distribution center in Clear Lake, ending a nearly yearlong mystery about the company's identity.

Plans for a regional warehouse and distribution center in the northern Iowa city were revealed last March, but the company insisted on not revealing its name, even during months of construction. During that time, the company has been described only as a Fortune 100 company.

That ended with the announcement by Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb, who revealed McKesson was the company, a day before its name would have become public because of financial help it is seeking from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Those requests are public records, the Mason City Globe Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/1CNNW7O ).

"Clear Lake has long been recognized as a very business-friendly community," Crabb told a crowd at City Hall. "One of the top companies in the United States has taken notice and is poised to put down roots right here. It is my sincere hope that other businesses will take notice of the benefits we have to offer."

McKesson, a health care services and information technology company ranked 15th by Fortune magazine, said in a news release that the new center would strengthen its pharmaceutical supply chain network. It will supply customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas as well as Iowa.

The warehouse, set for completion in April, is expected to employ 164 full-time workers with an average annual wage of $39,000.