Mayor Bill Haslam announced today the introduction of Knoxville-branded merchandise to retail outlets in Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport.

The merchandise fills a gap in the retail mix at the airport where previously few souvenir or gift options were available that specifically represented Knoxville.

"A visitor who returns home with gifts bearing the City's name is a great advertising for Knoxville," said Mayor Haslam. "People have a great sense of pride in our City, and this merchandise gives us a way to export that pride throughout the world."

Merchandise continues to be available at One Vision Plaza, the visitors center located downtown, as well as the airport. The line of Knoxville-branded merchandise is expected to expand next year with more merchandise and more retail outlets.

The Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. contracted with local manufacturer and distributor Bacon & Co. to develop the retail line.

Retail outlets in the airport include Heritage Booksellers and Tennessee Marketplace. Both stores are operated by The Paradies Shops, an Atlanta-based airport concessionaire operating more than 350 stores in 61 airports in the United States and Canada.

The sun-mountain-river logo was developed by KTSC to use in national and regional marketing of the City, and now is being used in several mediums by both the City of Knoxville and Knox County.

Mayor Haslam was joined at Tuesday's news conference by Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and officials with KTSC and the Knoxville Metropolitan Airport Authority.