In late 2008, during the global financial crisis, Daniel J. Healy and Rafael Anchia met in a Dallas coffee shop to explore an idea. Healy, an investment professional, and Anchia, a corporate attorney and Texas state legislator, were looking for a way to align capital with purpose. One year later, they co-founded Civitas Capital Group to do just that.
Their idea centered on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, a federal initiative that offers permanent U.S. residency to foreign nationals who invest in projects that create American jobs. Fifteen years later, Civitas has become a leading firm in the EB-5 space, helping more than 1600 investors and their families secure residency while contributing to U.S. economic development.
A Business Built on Immigration and Investment
Civitas was created with a clear mission: connect global investors with high-quality, U.S.-based investment opportunities to help those investors and their immediate family members live the American Dream.
“We help guide our investors every step of their journey,” says CEO and co-founder Dan Healy. “We aim to be more than just an investment partner. We want to support our clients and their families as they pursue a better future in the United States.” Healy brought investment experience and financial discipline to the company. Anchia, the son of immigrant parents from Spain and Mexico, contributed legal knowledge and a public policy perspective.
Their combined experience helped position Civitas as a firm that understands both global investors and U.S. regulatory frameworks. This dual perspective has remained central to firm’s institutional quality, as well as to the firm’s growth.
From Local Projects to Global Reach
Civitas’ early investments included developments that were unique within their communities. One of its first projects was the NYLO Dallas South Side, a boutique hotel in Dallas, Texas, that was the first full-service lodging development south of Interstate 30 in decades. Another was the Zang Triangle apartments in North Oak Cliff, a project that supported residential growth in a historically underserved neighborhood in Dallas.
Since then, Civitas has expanded significantly. Today, it has returned more than $440 million in capital to investors across more than 50 investment projects, which have served investors from more than 40 countries. Cultural competency is a core asset for Civitas: Its staff speaks more than 10 languages, and its project portfolio spans sectors including hospitality, housing, senior living, and alternative credit.
The firm now operates from One Arts Plaza in downtown Dallas—not far from the original coffee shop where the idea for a Texas-based, global-investor firm was born.
As Civitas marks its 15th year, it is exploring new investment opportunities while staying committed to the EB-5 program. The firm continues to adapt to changes in immigration policy and global economic conditions.
“Our core values haven’t changed,” says Healy. “They are: Focused Creativity, Institutional Stewardship, and Respect & Grace. Using those values as our foundation, we’re still focused on creating opportunities for our investors that help them live the American Dream.”
Stay tuned for more stories from our first 15 years.
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