Tasha Lard empowers Black entrepreneurs through community and mentorship

Tasha Lard dipped her toes into entrepreneurship during the pandemic, a time when most businesses found themselves floundering to stay afloat.

“Scary and unsure” is how she described her feelings after opening JD Beauty Supply, located in the Pepperwood Plaza at 1067 US-6 in Iowa City. Far from succumbing to the economic climate, however, the store flourished, and Ms. Lard started two new businesses in the subsequent…