Woodbury City Council — Agenda
Monday, June 22, 2026
Destination: Woodbury Marketing and Tourism Initiatives
Washington County Community Development Agency (WCCDA) Economic Development Programs
City Development Updates
Votes (6)
Destination: Woodbury Update - Sizzle Reel Video Production
Commissioners will discuss results from a previous exercise to identify compelling Woodbury locations and events for the DMO's sizzle reel. The objective is to prioritize these recommendations to guide the video production company, which aims to complete the reel by late summer or fall.
Destination: Woodbury Update - Quarterly e-Newsletter ('Know & Go')
Staff will present the first edition of the 'Know & Go' e-newsletter, launched on June 11th, along with its engagement results. The newsletter significantly exceeded initial targets, demonstrating strong subscriber growth and engagement. Commissioners will review the results and provide feedback, as well as discuss 2026 goals for the publication.
Washington County Community Development Agency (WCCDA) Presentation
Chris Eng (Economic Development Director, WCCDA) and Tyler Hilsabeck (Business Advisor, Open to Business) are scheduled to present an update on economic development programs and initiatives within Washington County. The presentation is intended to inform the Commission and offer an opportunity for questions and feedback on regional development efforts.
Destination: Woodbury Marketing Campaign Development
Staff will inform the Commission about developing a co-branding strategy to strengthen Destination: Woodbury. This strategy includes partnerships with Explore Minnesota to attract out-of-state visitors (targeting Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa), sponsoring local events (Hometown Celebration Fourth of July, Woodbury Days) to increase local brand awareness, and collaborating with content creators/influencers to generate diverse, user-generated content and itineraries.
Large Regional and National Event Opportunities (NFL Draft 2028)
Staff is seeking input from commissioners on strategies to attract and engage visitors in anticipation of the 2028 NFL Draft in the Twin Cities. Leveraging Woodbury's position as a gateway city and its DMO membership with Minnesota Sports & Events, the aim is to capitalize on out-of-region attendees to benefit local businesses, hotels, and attractions.
Development Update
Staff will provide a project update on current development activities within the city. This item is primarily for informational purposes, and the depth of the update will be determined by the time remaining during the meeting.
Notable Quotes (7)
At the April meeting, staff asked commissioners to identify three Woodbury locations or events that enhance the visitor experience and would make compelling content for the DMO sizzle reel. A copy of the results of the exercise is included with this packet, and Commissioners should be prepared to discuss the results of the exercise at the meeting, with the goal of prioritizing the locations and events that should be highlighted in the sizzle reel.
The e-mail campaign exceeded expectations, generating 238 subscribers, a 62 percent open rate, a 22 percent click-through rate and 51 website clicks. A key contributor to subscriber growth was a 10-day social media campaign, which staff implemented with a budget of $100.
Objective: Update the Commission on WCCDA economic development programming and initiatives and provide an opportunity for feedback and questions.
This approach would allow the DMO to co-brand alongside Explore Minnesota while reducing costs compared to hiring a marketing agency to develop and launch a campaign from scratch. The purpose of this tactic is to amplify our destination’s visibility and reach regional audiences ready to explore destinations in Minnesota.
At the April meeting, the EDC recommended expanding storytelling efforts by encouraging external contributors to share their experiences in Woodbury rather than relying solely on staff-generated content.
As a gateway city along I-94, Woodbury is well positioned to attract out-of-state visitors to its hotels, restaurants, attractions, and local businesses.
Objective: Staff are seeking input from commissioners on strategies to attract and engage visitors as they begin making travel plans for the event starting next year.
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
Memorandum detailing the agenda and discussion points for the June 23, 2026 EDC Meeting.
Minutes from a previous Economic Development Commission meeting, provided as an attachment to the June 23 agenda packet.
Minutes from a previous Economic Development Commission meeting, provided as an attachment to the June 23 agenda packet.
Results from an exercise where commissioners identified Woodbury locations/events for a DMO sizzle reel, attached for discussion at the June 23 meeting.
Newly launched quarterly e-newsletter whose first edition and performance results are to be reviewed by the EDC.
Draft report discussed at the February 24, 2026 meeting, incorporating commissioner feedback for finalization.
Theme guiding 'deep dives' and related to the 2025 Community Development Annual Report.
Dashboard created by LOCi Consulting presented at the April 28, 2026 meeting, providing economic metrics.
Major local event identified for co-branding sponsorship opportunities by Destination: Woodbury.
Website link for users to subscribe to the 'Know & Go' e-newsletter.
Website of the state's tourism agency, leveraged by Woodbury DMO for co-branding and increasing out-of-state visitors.