Colfax Downtown Association restaurant incubator construction to finish in late-July

COLFAX - Construction is underway on the Colfax Downtown Association restaurant incubator project. Colfax resident Trevor Miller has been named as the first occupant, with his restaurant Wild Ember Kitchen.

Construction crews are currently working towards an expected completion date of Saturday, July 20, on the former Washingon Federal Bank, located at 102 N. Main Street.

Downtown Association Executive Director Whitney Bond said that only two had applied for the incubator project, with one withdrawing from the application a few days before the deadline.

Bond said that the process of choosing started with the association soliciting applications and then forming a selection committee made of community leaders and longtime residents. "People who truly understand the demographic and the culture of our community," she said.

Committee members consisted of Colfax Mayor Jim Retzer, Port of Whitman County Executive Director Kara Riebold, Steve Larkin with the City of Colfax, Washington State University Associate Director of Culinary Senior Executive Chef Solon Pietila, residents Susie McNeilly, Emily Dawson and Eric Wick.

Bond said that Miller interviewed in front of the panel and by request provided examples of what his menu would be like and after the interview committee members added together their scoring rubrics. "Not a single person on our committee objected," Bond said, "Everyone was genuinely excited and on board."

The Downtown Association was looking at having two tenants in the building to share the space, Bond said, adding that they left it with Wild Ember Kitchen operating two businesses, a restuarant and a catering business.

Wild Ember Kitchen will have an outdoor dining experience, a drive through window to pic up to-go menus and a full-service bar.

"Which is exciting, because that is something we lack since the Hyde Out has gone out," Bond said "We're pretty restricted on having a place that offers a full service menu and a full service bar."

With Miller having grown up in Colfax, Bond said that he has a good idea of what the community desires. "I think it's going to be unique," she said, "we're very fortunate to have him."

Colfax Downtown Association received $2,259,820 from the Washington State Department of Commerce Small Business Innovation Fund (SBIF) grants, ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, coming out to a total of $32.5 million grants awarded to 22 different projects out of over 120 proposals in November 2022.

An incubator is a workspace created to offer business startups and new ventures access to resources that they would need. It also provides resident companies with access to advisors, mentors, administrative support, office equipment, training and potential investors.

The SBIF funds awarded funded a variety of activities, including small business incubators and accelerators, support for local procurement initiatives, improvements to physical workspaces in response to public health requirements or acts of vandalism, support for small business competitiveness programs focusing on hiring and retention, as well as projects increasing small business's ability to succeed and thrive.

Bond said that an official opening date for the restaurant is to be determined at this time.