Synthesizing an expo.

• Position: WESTERN REGION - AGI-Shorewood Group plant expands - New Belgium Brewing Company building a brewery in Asheville

Not only will next month's Moogfest, an electronic-music festival held in Asheville since 2008, run five days rather than its usual three, but it will add a technology conference. Attendance is expected to stay about the same as in recent years--between 20,000 and 30,000--but the event's organizers say its economic impact will double, reaching $30 million. Moog Music, founded by the inventor of the Moog synthesizer and headquartered in Asheville, will partner with Raleigh-based North Carolina Technology Association to hold the two-day Synthesis@Moogfest expo. In addition to presentations, film screenings and workshops, it will showcase products from tech companies that have a presence in North Carolina. The festival will run April 23-27.

EAST FLAT ROCK--ASG (AGI-Shorewood Group) will expand its plant here, investing $8.5 million and adding 50 jobs to the 160 it has now. The global company makes packaging for household products. Average annual wage will be about $40,000, almost 16% higher than Henderson County's $34,528.

ENKA--Fort Collins, Cola-based New Belgium Brewing, which is building a brewery in Asheville, will construct an East Coast distribution center here and create 30 jobs. It will be 100,000 square feet, and there is for a 40,000-square-loot expansion on the site. It will open in fall 2015.

ASHEVILLE--UNC...