Matthew Rivas

Senior Analyst

Based in HR&A’s New York office, Matthew’s work centers on the intersection of economic development, real estate strategy, parks and open space planning, and climate policy for clients across the country.

Matthew brings with him prior work experience advising business improvement districts, providing economic policy consulting for municipalities, conducting policy research with community development financial institutions, and in both public and private commercial real estate. Since joining HR&A, he has:

• • Guided the allocation of over $13 million of grant funds to fund quality-of-life improvements across New York City through the New York Forward program;

  • Helped develop a programming, funding, and governance plan for the ambitious reimagination of the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol Building to the White House into a more activated, pedestrian-friendly, and dynamic public space;

  • Supported the design and implementation of a national challenge to scale clean energy retrofits in the low- and moderate-income (LMI) housing market, designing trainings and resources for building upgrade programs to utilize as they refine their offerings;

  • Evaluated financial strategies, best practices in design, and redevelopment options for large-scale food distribution centers in New York City and Washington, D.C.;

  • Assessed the existing ecosystem and demand for energy assistance services among low-income and energy-burdened households across the State of Washington, then created strategies to improve significantly scale and improve programs to achieve equitable energy assistance and housing decarbonization;

  • Supported a new initiative coordinating national and local expertise to develop the tools, talent, and networks that will allow movement organizations, the philanthropic community, and government leaders to respond to both the humanitarian and political crises that unfold during and after moments of disaster.

  • Analyzed the budget, operating procedures, and maintenance practices of the parks department of a major city to understand spending on parks maintenance and recommend needed levels of spending to achieve a higher standard in the upcoming fiscal years.

  He holds a Master of City Planning degree and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, where he collaborated on a climate change resiliency plan for the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and worked with Philadelphia’s first commercial land trust on its long term growth strategy.