Matthew Bourke

Matt leads UBRI’s Climate Smart Communities initiative, assisting local government efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. He also supports the Clean Energy Communities program. Both initiatives help implement One Region Forward, the regional plan for sustainable development.

Prior to joining UBRI, Matt was a Senior Planner with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development. In that role he led the coordination of the Northern Chautauqua County Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), the development of the County’s recreational trail system, and the implementation of a Clean Energy Communities grant from NYSERDA, among other projects. He also supported the County’s complete streets initiative by identifying viable project locations and engaging with local stakeholders. Having developed a strong knowledge of land use planning and zoning, Matt regularly provided technical assistance to municipalities on those topics, as well as guidance on effectively managing commercial-scale solar energy development.

Matt previously worked for the City of Dunkirk as the administrator of the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, where he resolved a number of long-standing program challenges, created new accounting and program management practices, and identified underutilized program funding for reallocation towards implementable projects.

An AICP-certified planner, Matt holds a master’s degree in urban planning and bachelor’s degree in ecology, both from the University of Michigan. Born and raised outside of Chicago, he is proud to call Western New York his home. In his free time Matt enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, running, and trying to bake the perfect bagel.