U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Today that Eligible Businesses Can Now Apply for the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the launch of the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) program. The Department is encouraging eligible businesses of all sizes to apply for funding to protect jobs for workers as the industry climbs back from the impacts of the pandemic. This program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Before the pandemic, the aerospace industry was estimated to employ approximately 2.2 million workers, including 1.2 million who worked in various parts of the supply chain nationwide, according to industry sources. The historic drop in air travel precipitated by the pandemic led to reduced demand for parts, repairs, modifications, and other services. Over 100,000 jobs in the aerospace industry have been lost since the start of the pandemic, and estimates show hundreds of thousands more are at risk. As demand for aviation rebounds, these businesses are crucial to the safety and functioning of the aviation industry and the broader U.S. economy.

The AMJP funds can be used to pay up to half of the compensation costs for certain categories of employees engaged in manufacturing or repair, for up to six months.  In return, a company must make several commitments, including that it will not conduct furloughs without employee consent or lay off employees within that group during the same six-month period.

To be eligible, a company must meet the criteria that are published online at https://www.transportation.gov/AMJP/companies-eligible-help-under-amjp.