Eyewitness News has learned that internet giants Google and YouTube, along with several local groups and elected leaders, will announce that a presidential forum is set to come to the Crescent City this September.

The event, which will be announced nationally Tuesday, is slated for September 18 at the Morial Convention Center and will feature the Republican and Democratic nominees.

The announcement follows the highly criticized decision last year by the Presidential Commission on Debates not to hold a debate in New Orleans because the panel questioned whether the city was ready to host such an event.

The planned debate here will fall about one week before the first official debate sanctioned by the commission.

According to officials, the debate will use both Google and YouTube's technology to broadcast the debate on the internet.

The event will be hosted by the Women of the Storm, local universities and business leaders.

Candidates have not confirmed their participation just yet.

Check back to WWLTV.com for more updates.