Wild Ember Kitchen opens doors

COLFAX - Wild Ember Kitchen staff and crew prepared the dining room and opened the doors for the official grand opening Saturday, Aug. 17.

Wild Ember Kitchen owner Trevor Miller and his wife Amanda Miller, accompanied by their two sons Cian and Lachlan, Colfax Downtown Association Executive Assistant Allie Cofer and Colfax Superintendent Jerry Pugh cut the ribbon to commemorate the first official day of business.

Surrounded by a small group of family and friends, Amanda said it's crazy to be a business owner, "Exciting, though."

"Thanks to the community for all their support," said Cofer, both stating it is exciting to share wonderful food with the surrounding area.

Wild Ember Kitchen boasts an outdoor dining area, drive through window and a full-service bar. Wild Ember Kitchen is located at 102 N. Main Street in Colfax.

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, Wild Ember Kitchen and the Colfax Downtown Association hosted a small private dinner to thank members of the community who helped to usher the project to its completed status and give them a sneak peak of the restaurant before its opening.

Guests mingled before the private dinner, walking through the restaurant and taking in the new location. "I like the open concept. I'm excited to have the vault room," said LaCrosse resident Brian Collins.

"This is fantastic," Colfax School District Superintendent Jerry Pugh said. "This is what Colfax has been waiting for. It takes a community to make something special like this happen."

Pugh took to the microphone before the dinner to welcome attendees and congratulate the Downtown Association and the Millers.

"This is what happens when a dream meets a vision," he concluded

Colfax Downtown Association Director Whitney Bond also spoke during the event, giving her thanks to the many individuals, businesses, Board of Directors and tenants who helped get the project not only off the ground, but brought to fruition after the last year and a half of work.

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.

The SBIF awarded a variety of activities, including small business incubators and accelerators, support for local procurement initiatives, improvements to physical work spaces 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.

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.