No one likes to be called names, but sometimes it's okay. Much of the name-calling last year about Richmond was appreciated.

CNBC identified Richmond as one of the 20 top cities in America to start a business. Zillow described Richmond as a millennial-leaning city because of the city's vibrant labor market. That sense of vibrancy throughout Central Virginia has helped it land projects in a variety of industries in the past year. In addition to a young, well-educated population, the region is capitalizing on its logistical advantages as a relatively low-cost hub in the middle of the East Coast.