U.S. DOT delivers new assistance to protect aviation manufacturing jobs—and reopens application process one last time

WASHINGTON D.C. Nov 8 – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it will offer an additional $184 million in funding provided by the American Rescue Plan to 158 more aviation manufacturing businesses. The Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program (AMJP) is helping protect nearly 30,000 American manufacturing jobs across 41 states and Puerto Rico. These new awards, combined with the first round of funding in September, brings the total to $626* million to help protect aviation manufacturing jobs.

At the same time, DOT has announced that it will reopen the application process one last time. Final applications will be due on Monday, December 13, 2021. The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program is no longer a constraint on AMJP awards.

“This Administration has made it a priority to protect manufacturing jobs in the U.S.,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will save thousands of manufacturing jobs, support hundreds of small businesses, and help keep America’s aviation industry strong.”

Many of the recipients are small businesses. Of the 469 companies receiving funds in the first two rounds, 298 of them (63%) had fewer than 100 employees at the beginning of April 2020, and 381 of them (81%) had fewer than 250 employees. DOT employed a broad range of strategies to contact potentially eligible businesses to lay out the application process and eligibility rules.

AMJP awards are part of the American Rescue Plan’s strong support to protect jobs in the aviation industry, including $15 billion in payroll support for passenger air carriers and contractors and $8 billion in economic assistance to U.S. airports.

AMJP funds can be used to pay up to half of the payroll costs for certain categories of employees engaged in manufacturing or repair, for up to six months. In return, recipient businesses must make several commitments, including not to involuntarily furlough or lay off employees (or reduce pay or benefits) within that group while receiving AMJP payroll support.

A full list of all recipient businesses can be found at Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) Program Eligible Recipients | US Department of Transportation.

The first round of funding was announced on September 13, 2021.