Digimedia Founder Scott Day is one of the domain industry's true pioneers. In another ground-breaking endeavor, this time a non-profit initiative, Day, along with Digimedia President Jay Chapman and  iThemes Media CEO Cory Miller, have co-founded The Div, a foundation designed to serve as a tech community hub dedicated to web-based innovation, creativity and training in their home state of Oklahoma (the name “Div” comes from the web programming term <div>, which is the starting point for a container of elements). 

The organization will officially open its 1,800-foot office in Edmonds, Oklahoma a week from Thursday (August 25) with Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb and Edmonds Mayor Patrice Douglas among the dignitaries that will be on hand for the Grand Opening (the office, at 1712 S. Kelly Ave., is right around the corner from Digimedia headquarters). 

The opening day event will run from 11am-12:30pm and will include an introductory class, How to Build a Website is 20 Minutes, that is representative of the kind of training the foundation will provide to help the local workforce take full advantage of the opportunities the Internet presents. The Div plans to offer weekly and monthly workshops

Digimedia Founder Scott Day

and classes, co-working days to bring local web pros together and will also host web-related user groups.

Digimedia President Jay Chapman

iThemes Media CEO Cory Miller

Jay Chapman said, "The Div's objective is to pioneer a local (in Oklahoma, "local" means statewide) internet-technology territory by inspiring and training the next generation to realize and harness the web's innumerable opportunities. Hopefully the foundation will impact and help others in Oklahoma and beyond! Like any non-profit, the Div is always seeking other like-minded folks to climb aboard, participate and partner."

Cory Miller, who will serve as The Div's President, noted, "When I launched iThemes in my home three years ago, I never imagined it would grow to what it has today. Now with a workforce of more than 20 people and iThemes on solid financial footing and growing, we believe giving back to the community and helping aspiring web designers, developers and entrepreneurs build a better Oklahoma just seems like the most logical next step for us, and the right thing to do.” If you go to The Div website, you will find a video at the top right on the home page in which Miller talks more about why he, Day and Chapman created The Div.

I think it is a terrific idea and one that may well be copied in other locales around the U.S. and the world. I've always felt that for many the key to moving ahead in today's stagnant economy is to turn to the Internet where opportunities still abound. The Div will provide a place where Oklahomans can learn how to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities on the web.