The I Love BG campaign is continuing to gain support in the community, according to the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For instance, the new Fruit of the Loom Brand Store has jumped on board and will begin selling shirts with heat-transfer I Love BG logos already applied, as well as the heat transfers themselves. A portion of the proceeds will help support the campaign, CVB Executive Director Vicki Fitch told the tourism board Monday.

“And they contacted us,” she said.

Marketing Director Emily Causey was excited about the “I luv BG Idea Home” that is under construction in Briarwood. Causey said the home, owned by Laura Gilbert, will draw attention to locally based contractors and products. When the project is completed in the spring, Gilbert will have a gala and offer tours of the home, with the proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund.

Fitch said the CVB is still pursuing registering a trademarked name for I Love BG.

“We currently can use ‘TM’ but not the ‘R,’ since it is not yet registered,” Fitch said.

Causey said an I Love BG food drive last month brought in 30 oversized bags of food items for a food pantry.

In other matters, group sales director Duncan Hines said about 400 to 500 people will be in town in January for the Kentucky First Lego League Championship.

“We can’t really expand attendance because of how the competition is set up,” Hines said. “But we are working with our attractions to offer them more to do so they will stay in town longer.”

Hines also continues to bring more motor coach tours into the area by working with hotels, restaurants and attractions to get them certified to handle motor coach tours, since they require special parking and have other logistic issues to deal with.

“With the economy being the way it is, the hotels are really pushing to get motor coach business,” he said.

Typically, Hines targets tours that will spend at least one night and part of two days in Bowling Green, eating in restaurants and visiting attractions.

Fitch told the board that plans for a building expansion should be complete in two to three weeks, at which point bids from subcontractors will be sought.