What will you remember from 2009? The big dip in the value of your retirement portfolio? Its subsequent recovery? The ubiquitousness of Facebook and Twitter? Or government incentives like the first-time homebuyer credit and Cash for Clunkers?

Here's a quiz to see how much attention you've been paying to the local economy in 2009. Give yourself credit for how many answers you get right. Answers are at bottom. Top score is 100. Good luck!

1. Champaign County's average unemployment rate for 2008 was 5.7 percent. Within one percentage point, what was the county's unemployment rate in November 2009? (2 points)

Vermilion County's average unemployment rate for 2008 was 8.2 percent. Within one percentage point, what was its unemployment rate in November 2009? (2 points)

The state's average unemployment rate for 2008 was 6.5 percent. Within one percentage point, what was the rate in November 2009? (1 point)

2. What enterprise did not have a mass layoff in 2009? (5 points)

a) the Baltimore Aircoil plant in Paxton

b) the Vesuvius plant in Fisher

c) EpiWorks, which makes semiconductor wafers in Champaign

d) the THQ quality-assurance center in Champaign

e) Meadowbrook Farms in Rantoul

3. What step did First Busey Corp. not take in 2009 after suffering losses stemming from problem loans in its Florida market? (5 points)

a) cut its dividend

b) sold its FirsTech data-processing subsidiary

c) merged its Illinois and Florida banks

d) issued preferred stock

e) closed offices in Thomasboro and Rantoul

4. Which of the following auto dealers did not lose at least one franchise during 2009? (5 points)

a) Four Seasons Auto Plaza in Tuscola

b) Courtesy Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Danville

c) Rust Chevrolet in Cissna Park

d) O'Brien Auto Park in Urbana

5. Which of the following properties were affected by foreclosure suits in 2009? (5 points)

a) The Inman Plaza retirement center in Champaign

b) the Historic Lincoln Hotel in Urbana

c) the Villas at Ashland Farm in Champaign

d) all of the above

6. In July, six Illinois banks controlled by the Campbell family failed as a result of investments in collateralized debt obligations and other loan losses. Two of those banks were in East Central Illinois. What were their names? (5 points)

a) Strategic Capital Bank in Champaign and First National Bank in Gilman

b) First National Bank in Danville and John Warner Bank in Clinton

c) Hindsboro Federal in Hindsboro and Rantoul Savings in Rantoul

7. Champaign-based Wolfram Research launched a new computational knowledge tool last spring that received national acclaim. What was the name of the tool? (5 points)

8. In May, Strategic Capital Bank in Champaign was put into receivership by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and its deposits were later assumed by Midland States Bank. But Strategic Capital Bank's former president, Steve Wills, ended up heading the local office of another bank that uses the SCB acronym. What's the name of that Decatur-based bank? (5 points)

9. Sanford Hess has agreed to operate the Art Theatre in the coming year, after current operator Greg Boardman in 2009 failed to come to terms with building owner David Kraft on a new lease. At one point, Boardman considered reopening a long-closed theater across the street from the Art. What was the name of that theater? (5 points)

10. Popular local bookstore Pages for All Ages closed its doors in January after a 20-year run. Where was it located before it moved to Savoy Plaza 10 years ago? (5 points)

11. Wienerschnitzel reopened in December at its longtime location in west Champaign. It's the only Wienerschnitzel east of the Mississippi River. This time, it's paired up with another storied fast-food franchise. What's the name of that franchise? (5 points)

12. This Danville company was deemed the fastest-growing firm in East Central Illinois, according to Inc. magazine this year. The company's clients include Dell, Walt Disney, Best Buy, Kodak and Wal-Mart. What's the name of this company? (5 points)

13. When Doug Larson opened a piano bar in Urbana's Lincoln Square Village in July 2008, he said, "I hope this will add life to the mall and let Lincoln Square become a shopping and entertainment destination again." Unfortunately, the entertainment venue closed in June of this year, just short of its first anniversary. What was the name of the venue? (5 points)

14. Identify each of the following businesses that opened in downtown Champaign this year:

– Engineering firm that occupies ground floor of former Robeson's department store. (1 point)

– Architectural firm that occupies former Verde Gallery building on Taylor Street (1 point)

– Brewery that opened in former Barfly space on Neil Street (1 point)

– Bank that opened in former Great Impasta space on Church Street (1 point)

– Bank that opened on ground floor of new M2 mixed-used development on Neil Street (1 point)

15. A circuit-protection manufacturing company and a pharmaceutical and nutritional products company – both headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area – announced this year that they would open offices in the University of Illinois Research Park. Name one of the two companies. (5 points)

16. Jayne DeLuce was named the new director of the Champaign-Urbana Convention & Visitors Bureau. Whom did she replace? (5 points)

17. Jason's Balloons and Spoons is slated to open in the old Dog n Suds on Champaign's Town Center Boulevard. How long had the giant space-age style building stood vacant? (5 points)

a) Three years

b) Five years

c) Eight years

d) 13 years

e) Three dog-years

18. Rural King moved into the former Wal-Mart store on Marketview Drive this fall. With its opening, the chain had 44 stores in six states. Where's the world headquarters for the agricultually oriented retailer? (5 points)

19. Identify the following businesses that closed during 2009:

– Children's play facility that closed at Champaign's Country Fair Shopping Center. (1 point)

– Upscale men's clothing store that closed at Market Place Shopping Center. (1 point)

– Longtime tavern that closed on Race Street in downtown Urbana; Red Star Liquors has since opened in the space. (1 point)

– Pet and hobby shop that closed on North Mattis Avenue in Champaign. (1 point)

– Live concert and theater venue that closed in Effingham. (1 point)

20. The News-Gazette became an all-morning newspaper on June 1, 2009. According to the latest audited figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, what happened to The News-Gazette's average paid circulation during the year that ended Sept. 30, 2008? (5 points)

a) Circulation rose about 10 percent from the previous year.

b) Circulation remained relatively stable.

c) Circulation dropped about 10 percent from the previous year.

d) Circulation dropped about 20 percent from the previous year.

Answers

1. In November, Champaign County's rate was 8.6 percent; Vermilion County's rate was 12.1 percent; the state's rate was 10.9 percent.

2. c) EpiWorks did not have a mass layoff in 2009. In fact, it has announced plans to add 10 employees in 2010 and 20 to 30 in 2011.

3. b) First Busey did not sell its FirsTech data-processing subsidiary, which has been profitable.

4. b) Courtesy Ford-Lincoln-Mercury retained all of its franchises this year.

5. d) all of the above.

6. b) First National Bank in Danville and John Warner Bank in Clinton. Although First National Bank in Gilman was controlled by the Campbells, it did not fail; it was sold to Edgar County Bancshares and is now part of Edgar County Bank & Trust.

7. Wolfram|Alpha.

8. Soy Capital Bank & Trust.

9. The Rialto

10. The Old Farm Shops in Champaign.

11. Tastee-Freez.

12. Dawson Logistics.

13. 88 Broadway.

14. Clark Dietz; BLDD Architects; Blind Pig Brewery; First Bank of Champaign; BankChampaign.

15. Littelfuse and Abbott Laboratories.

16. Scott Hockman, who had headed the bureau since 2006.

17. c) eight years.

18. Mattoon.

19. Ants in Their Pants; Bachrach; Embassy Tavern; Leisure Time Pet and Hobby; Rosebud Theatre.

20. Relatively stable. The News-Gazette's Monday-to-Friday average paid circulation was 41,938 for the year that ended Sept. 30, 2008 – up about 3.2 percent from 40,647 the previous year. Average paid circulation on Sundays was 44,683 – down about 1.1 percent from 45,193 the previous year.

Figures for the year that ended Sept. 30, 2009, won't be audited and available for public release until next fall, according to Circulation Director Pete Jones.